Hello Boss babes and Bosses out there!
In this video, I am going to share with you, guys,
the common struggles I face as an online freelancer
and how I solve those.
I will also share the questions that are usually being asked by
aspiring and newbie freelancers.
What if there is a brownout?
What if there is no internet connection or what if it is so slow.
How to work with clients in different timezones?
Things like that.
So, I am going to share more of that
and how I resolve those struggles as an online freelancer.
My first struggle back then, when I started working online,
is the laptop or computer that I will be using.
I started working online a year after I graduated.
I was a teacher for one year in our school.
Literally, I was teaching high school students.
After that, I started working online full-time.
The laptop that I used was only given to me by my auntie.
Actually, I did not ask her for a laptop.
She just gave it to me
out of...charity?
Charity?
She just wanted to help because she might be thinking,
"Sui is a graduating student and she is taking a computer science course."
"And she does not have any equipment to use."
Though we had a computer back then,
that computer is not that useful
because we do have an activity in our school laboratory
that needs, at least, a laptop
for us to be able to bring home what we have coded in our school.
So, she gave me a laptop
and it is literally a hand-me-down.
I think that was a seven-year-old laptop.
So, it lags so much.
To be honest, I am so, so, so grateful that she gave that to me
because we can't afford a laptop.
So, I was literally like, "You are such a blessing, Mommy (Auntie)"
Though it lags, I don't see it like, "Oh, this is so laggy."
Because the point is
if I get to do my project and my presentation,
that time when I was still in school,
it is already good.
I did not ask for more than that.
That is what I also used when I started working online.
And to be honest, it is good.
It really is.
I was able to finish my tasks.
But I have to do something first before I start working.
I have to do some rituals first for the laptop to function well.
It's because the laptop is an old one already, right?
As I open it,
within 30 minutes, it is so laggy.
After one click, I still have to wait for a few minutes before it actually run.
It's that kind of lag.
But I noticed,
every 30 minutes,
when it is turned on for quite some time already
it does not lag so much.
So, every time I log in to my work online, or if I have to do something online,
as I prepare to go to work, I am turning the laptop on already.
So, by the time I get to work, it does not lag that much anymore.
Approximately, it lags 2x only.
But upon opening it, it lags 5x or 6x.
For example, if I have to log in to work by 8:00 a.m.
So, by 7:30 a.m., the laptop must be on already.
So, by the time I go online at 8:00 a.m.,
at least, it does not lag that much.
Those were my techniques.
So, what I mean here is that if you want to start working online,
it is not necessary that you buy laptops or computers with the best specs
if you don't have a budget for it yet.
You can literally start with what you currently have.
If your laptop is not high quality, but can do certain tasks,
if you can browse,
if it can download files,
literally, if you can finish the tasks for your client,
then, that is okay.
You just have to adjust.
Just adjust to what you are currently using.
But if you are able to save,
and if you already have the budget to buy equipment with higher specs
that will not make you stressed anymore
or that will not make you adjust anymore,
go, buy it.
No matter how much it is, as long as it is for your work,
don't hesitate to buy.
Because it's income-generating.
That is the reason you generate money.
So, why will you not spend on things that can help you generate money, right?
So, that is the mindset I instilled before.
"Once I have saved enough money, I will buy the kind of laptop
that I think can improve the quality of my work."
So, after that, I bought a new laptop that is way, way better.
I was able to get many projects.
I can already work on multiple projects starting from that.
If your laptop or computer has low specs,
you probably only get one project at a time.
You cannot get two projects because your computer can't handle.
Having good equipment specs
when it comes to your laptop or computer
will really give you more opportunity
compared to sticking with a low-end laptop or computer.
If you have profits, save even a little amount.
Save and save then, invest in better equipment
for you to be able to get more projects.
And when it comes to headsets,
it is not necessary to buy the most expensive and the best headsets.
There are types of headsets that can filter out all the noise in the background.
But if you don't have a budget for that,
you can buy regular headsets that are affordable.
And also the camera,
as long as you are clearly seen,
your camera does not necessarily have to be HD or 4K quality.
There are some clients that will not ask you to turn on your camera.
There are also clients that do not hop on a call.
For most of my clients, we do not make any calls.
More on chat and emails only.
Only a few clients of mine want to have a weekly call.
But before, when I was just starting out,
the client wanted my camera to be turned on.
I don't know why.
"Okay."
But anyway, I have already survived that.
Now, for most of my clients,
there is no need to turn on the camera.
And it is not necessary to have a call every week.
I only have one client now that wants us to have a call every week.
And that is only around 30 minutes.
For the second struggle that I will be sharing,
this is not a struggle anymore because I already have some backups.
But this was my usual struggle back then when I was just starting to work online,
the internet connection.
I know you, guys.
Many of us are struggling with this one.
There are really times when the internet connection speed is slow.
So, what I do for that is
I keep, at least, two backup sources of internet connection.
I have one main source of internet connection,
the wired internet connection which is the very stable one.
And I have prepaid wifi. That is my backup.
I will just load it.
This one.
I bought that one.
I use it every time there is no internet connection, and I have to work on something.
Another backup that I have is my mobile hotspot.
I have a postpaid plan and as long as my phone's network signal is okay,
I can share the internet connection from my phone to my laptop.
So, if the internet connection speed is not fast,
or if I am in a place where I have to work a little and I need an internet connection,
I can use my mobile hotspot.
One thing also that I can suggest is that
you can go to the nearest coffee shop or the nearest co-working space in your area.
I am not sure if there is a co-working space here.
Most likely, coffee shops only.
If there is one near your area, you can go there.
It is also a great way to have a new working environment other than your home.
Those are literally the things I do when it comes to internet connection problems.
The third thing that usually occurs is the brownout.
We always experience power outage here.
For my computer, I do have UPS.
But UPS does not last long, unlike generators.
But I still don't have a generator.
I don't have the budget for that yet.
If buying a generator fits your budget,
then that is good.
I would really, really, highly recommend that compared to UPS.
But if you still don't have a budget,
you can use UPS.
If you are using a computer,
plug it to the UPS
so that, in case there is a brownout,
your computer will not be turned off instantly.
It helps to prevent computer breakdown.
My friend also suggested the use of the car battery.
But you have to buy a connector to convert it to an outlet.
Something like that.
I did not get it that much.
She said it is possible to be used as an alternative if you don't have a generator.
And it is also better to use because it lasts longer.
And for example, if it is a scheduled power interruption,
if they posted on Facebook something like, "We have a scheduled brownout."
Take a screenshot of that and send it to your client.
That is what I do.
If it is scheduled and if it is not an on-the-spot brownout,
if it is not an immediate or on-the-spot brownout,
I take a screenshot of it and I send it to my client.
"Hey, we have a power outage later.
So, I might not be online and you might look for me. This is just to let you know.
I will just extend my work hours later if the power has been restored."
Actually, the clients do understand.
Because I am no control over the power outage, right?
They will understand that as long as it is really true.
My next struggle is the background noise: the roosters, the dogs, and the likes.
They really distract the client.
I have a client before, my first-ever client online.
He always jokingly ask if the roosters and the dogs are going to join in our meeting.
It is not our chicken.
We were just renting an apartment before.
He was so sarcastic.
I know that he was just joking but I can really feel that he is getting annoyed already.
So, what I did was
every time we have a meeting and I am not talking,
I just mute my mic.
And that time, I also don't have a noise cancellation headset
like only your voice will be heard.
It is quite expensive.
I did not buy one before because it is not included in my budget
and he was the only client that I always have a call with.
There is also an app now, I think it is Krisp.
It can isolate background noise and only your voice will be heard.
You can also buy soundproofing materials like soundproof curtain.
You can buy soundproof blanket that you can cover in your window
so that the noise outside will be lessen.
I think it is because it is thicker, heavier and
the dense of the material itself can isolate voice
to prevent noise in your room, or somewhere like that.
But then again, I did not buy any of those.
Because I don't really take clients
that requires calls.
So, I don't have clients
who frequently call
except during weekly or monthly touchbase meetings.
But those projects where I have to take and make calls,
I don't have that kind of task.
So, I did not buy any.
And as you can see, the dogs always join us in our videos.
My next struggle as a freelancer are the distractions at home.
Especially if you are really working from home,
there are a lot of distractions, not just the people around.
There is also the TV, you can watch Netflix anytime.
You can also just lay down.
You can also just eat.
All of those aside from the distractions caused by the people around you.
The first thing I do is
I have a designated place where I always work.
Another thing is
I use headsets.
For me, as for me,
since my mom is sometimes here,
she watches videos so she is also producing noise.
I am easily distracted by that
because instead of focusing on my work,
as I hear her play a video,
my attention goes to the video she plays.
So, I wear headsets
and I tell my mom,
"I am working so I don't hear anything. If you need anything from me,
just poke me and say, 'Hey, I need you for this one.'"
Something like that.
Because the more focus you are on one single thing,
the faster you finish the task
and you are more efficient and productive in that way.
But we can't totally eliminate distractions
so you can use headsets
and you can tell your mom or whoever you are with,
"Just a moment. I will just finish something
in just four hours and after that, I can attend to your needs."
Something like that.
I always say that to my mom
because sometimes, there are really urgent deliverables
and there should not be any distractions.
I know that that kind of advice is not really applicable to all,
especially if you are a mom
or if you are still a student
or if you do the chores at home, right?
Maybe you can say, "I can do some of the work that you want me to do
if I am done with this. But I really have to finish this one first."
You just really have to communicate what you need.
But again, if you have a baby or child to attend to,
they should be the priority, right?
But if you have a babysitter who can take care of the baby for a moment,
or the child's dad, your husband,
you can also ask, "Can you take care of the baby first? I will just finish this one for two hours."
Something like that.
Communication is the key as well.
Aside from the headset, communication.
So, yeah.
But if there is no one in your house other than you and the kids,
I don't know.
I haven't experienced it yet.
I don't have any idea yet what to do.
But yeah.
The next one is the time zone.
This has been my struggle up until now.
But I learned a technique on how to solve it.
There are a couple of times already, I can't even count,
it's either I woke up so early as I thought we will be having a meeting
so early here in the Philippines.
But it turns out that the meeting will be held nighttime here in the Philippines.
"My god, I even woke up so early and the meeting will be at nighttime."
Things like that.
And there is also one time when
I waited until 2:00 to 3:00 a.m
because I thought we will be having a meeting during those time.
But it turns out that the meeting will be held in the morning, not that time.
Those kinds of scenarios.
Like, "Oh my god. What's with these time zones?"
Recently, my client told me that we will be having a meeting.
He said at 5:00 p.m and he mentioned the equivalent time in their country.
And I did not check it.
What I did is that I just prepared and attended at 5:00 p.m.
But when I checked, he was already calling at 4:00 p.m.
Oh c'mon.
When I double checked the time,
it is really 4:00 p.m Philippine Time, but he said 5:00 p.m.
So, my solution for that is
I created a weekly recurring meeting event on Google calendar.
On the system, the time is automatically adjusted.
When I set the time on my timezone and I share it with him,
the time in his calendar will be converted in his time zone.
If you don't know how to do that,
you can check out this video here.
I have already shared the tutorial on how to create an event
using Google calendar and how to share it to the client.
That really fixed my problem.
And I downloaded an app that shows on my phone the different time zone.
So, you can also download this one and you can also use that
if you like.
That's that.
I hope this video helps you know what you can do
in case you encounter the same struggles.
Basically, those are my struggles up until now.
And yeah, before I am going to end this video,
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So, yeah. I hope to see you, guys, on my next one.
Bye!